ISTANBUL, TURKEY – In a significant diplomatic and religious engagement, the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Thursday, welcomed a high-powered delegation from the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) to Istanbul. The meeting, which took place at the presidential complex in the Turkish commercial capital, underscores Türkiye’s continued leadership role in global Islamic affairs and its commitment to fostering unity among Muslim nations.
The delegation, led by top-ranking members of the IUMS, engaged President Erdogan in wide-ranging discussions that centred on the challenges facing the Muslim world, as well as possible collaborative strategies between scholars, statesmen, and Islamic institutions to protect the dignity and interests of the Ummah. According to sources present at the meeting, issues such as the crisis in Gaza, the condition of Muslims in conflict zones, and the growing need for solidarity among Islamic countries were highlighted as urgent matters requiring unified responses.
President Erdogan, who has consistently positioned himself as a vocal advocate for oppressed Muslim communities across the globe, reiterated his administration’s unwavering support for initiatives aimed at strengthening the bonds of Islamic brotherhood. He commended the efforts of the IUMS in providing scholarly guidance and promoting moderate Islamic thought at a time when extremism and misinformation continue to threaten global peace and coexistence.
The International Union of Muslim Scholars, headquartered in Doha, Qatar, is a globally recognised body that brings together prominent Islamic thinkers, jurists, and academics from over 50 countries. The union plays a critical advisory role in shaping Islamic discourse, policy, and education, especially in matters that affect the socio-political wellbeing of Muslims around the world.
Thursday’s meeting comes at a time when the international Muslim community is grappling with multiple layers of crises, ranging from political instability to economic hardship and rising Islamophobia in some parts of the world. Analysts view the Erdogan-IUMS interface as a strategic step toward aligning state policies with scholarly insight, especially in navigating complex issues affecting Muslim populations.
While no official communiqué was released immediately after the meeting, insider sources suggest that both parties agreed on the need for continuous engagement, the promotion of justice and equity, and the amplification of the Muslim voice in international diplomatic corridors.
